Hospitals Group Northern Ireland Division - Study Day 2026

Consultant and Specialist in Restorative Dentistry. After graduating from Queen’s University Belfast in 2006, he completed specialist training at the Eastman Dental Hospital, London, alongside a Master's degree in Conservative Dentistry from University College London.

He joined the GDC Specialist List in Restorative Dentistry and worked as a Consultant in South Wales from 2019–2025 before returning to Northern Ireland in August 2025 to take up a Consultant post within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

His clinical interests include the rehabilitation of complex restorative and head and neck cancer patients.

Darren qualified as a dentist from the Queens’ University of Belfast and went on to train as an orthodontist at Glasgow Dental School before undertaking further training to become a Consultant Orthodontist. Darren specialises in the treatment of children and adults with facial deformity including cleft lip and palate.

Darren is the Regional Cleft Orthodontist for Northern Ireland, Chair (elect) Hospital Dental Services Forum, Chair of Northern Ireland Consultant Orthodontic Group, BDA rep on BMA Northern Ireland Consultant Committee, NI rep on UK Consultant Orthodontic Group and NI rep on the Orthodontic Clinical Excellence Group (sub-group of Craniofacial Society for GB & Ireland).

BMedSci, BDS, FDS (RCS Ed), MOrth, MMedSci, FDS(Orth)

Director of Improvement, Engagement and Impact at the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, a post she has held for four years.

Prior to this Julie worked in both the Voluntary Sector and Academia, spending almost 20 years with the children’s charity Barnardo’s Northern Ireland.